According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, more than 5 percent of the population will have kidney stones. Men are more likely than women to acquire stones, particularly between the ages of 40 and 70. For women, the prevalence decreases after age 50. Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, or "blasting" of the stones, is a recognized treatment for kidney stones. However, adverse effects are known to be associated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.
Hematuria
Hematuria, or blood in the urine, after lithotripsy is not uncommon. Heavy bleeding noted in the urine should raise concern for a disorder of blood clotting or uncontrolled infection, according to a 2002 article in the Bombay Hospital Journal by Dr. Pankaj N. Maheshwari. Large blood clots, or hematomas, around the kidney occur in approximately 0.1 to 0.3 percent of patients and are more likely to occur if the patient has hypertension, diabetes or infection. Hematomas may lead to renal failure and the need for blood transfusions, according to the American Urological Association of Education and Research. Unnecessary bleeding may be avoided by not taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, and/or other medicines that thin the blood. Other risk factors include being elderly, having undergone previous lithotripsy treatment and having a history of recurrent stones.
Diabetes
According to Surgery.com, pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas may result after lithotripsy. Inflammation of the pancreas can cause pain and significant illness. The American Urological Association of Education and Research notes a study done by the Mayo Clinic in which the development of diabetes resulted after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy treatment. Damage to the islet cells of the pancreas is hypothesized as the cause. The development of diabetes was associated with the number of shocks and the intensity of the lithotripsy.
Hypertension
The development of hypertension after lithotripsy has been documented, and evidence suggests that increases in blood pressure are dose dependent. Patients older than 60 years of age are at greatest risk of developing high blood pressure after lithotripsy treatment. The American Urological Association of Education and Research also notes that studies indicate the development of hypertension is associated with lithotripsy treatment to both kidneys. The development of diabetes and hypertension following lithotripsy treatments may indicate that cellular damage occurs to the various organs during treatment.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Clearinghouse: Kidney Stones in Adults
- "Bombay Hospital Journal"; EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY: Complications and Their Prevention; Pankaj N. Maheshwari; April 2002
- Surgery.com: Morbidity and Mortality of Lithotripsy
- American Urological Association of Education and Research: White Paper: Current Perspective on Adverse Effects in Shock Wave Lithotripsy; 2009
